scholarly journals Investigation of the Morphology of Adrenal Glands in Hens Kept in Two Different Housing Systems—A Pilot Study

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2124
Author(s):  
Franziska Keßler ◽  
Angelika Grümpel-Schlüter ◽  
Christian Looft ◽  
Stefanie Petow
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adrenal Glands ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Adrenal Cells ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Interrenal Cells

It is difficult to objectively assess the chronic effects of housing systems on livestock and particularly on laying hens. However, this seems to be important in the context of animal welfare. Therefore, we conducted the present study in order to compare the effect of two different housing conditions, single cage (SC) and floor pen (FP), on the morphology of the adrenal gland. A higher amount of interrenal cells, which secrete stress hormones, can lead to a difference in the relation of adrenal and interrenal cells, which could be interpreted as an indication of chronic stress. For this purpose, adrenal glands were extracted, prepared, stained and examined by microscopy, and total area of the cut, total area of interrenal cells and total area of adrenal cells were measured. As a result, all laying hens had a higher percentage of interrenal cells than adrenal cells (FP: interrenal cells/adrenal cells = 78.37%/21.63%; SC: 80.00%/20.00%). The median of adrenal–interrenal ratio did not differ significantly (FP = 0.2503, SC = 0.2499), while the variation of the ratio between laying hens in FP and SC showed a slight tendency of a higher ratio in adrenal glands of FP (p < 0.0870). Body weight and adrenal–interrenal ratio were significantly negatively correlated in laying hens in FP (rS = −0.943, p < 0.0048) but not in SC (rS = −0.162, p = 0.7283). There was no significant correlation between body weight and total cell area for interrenal cells or adrenal cells. Body weight was significantly lower for laying hens kept in SC than for laying hens kept in FP (p < 0.0001). Due to the present results, it can be concluded that keeping laying hens in single cages can have a negative effect on body weight.

scholarly journals Hen reproductive function under the influence of technological stressor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu. Osadcha
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Stress State ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Efficiency Factor ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Poultry House ◽  
Negative Effect

Modern industrial poultry enterprises use cage equipment for keeping laying hens, which is located in 12 and even 15 tiers, forming 4–5 floors. This makes it possible to increase the birds concentration in the poultry house by 4–5 times as compared to 3-tier cage batteries, and by 8–10 times as compared to the outdoor method of keeping. When using a 4–5 floors arrangement of cage batteries, the number of hens in one poultry house can reach 590 thousand birds. However, there are no data on the effect of such keeping on the physiological state of hens. Therefore, it is relevant to study the effect of the height of the cage battery on the reproductive function of laying hens of an industrial herd, which forms the efficiency of production of edible eggs. For this, in the conditions of a modern complex for the production of edible eggs, 4 groups of hens were formed, each of which was kept on a separate floor-analogue in area and cage equipment, located in one poultry house. Each floor was equipped with 3-tier cage batteries: tiers 1–3 were part of the 1st floor, tiers 4–6 — on the 2nd, 7–9 tiers — on the 3rd, and tiers 10–12 — 4th floors of cage equipment. The reproductive function of hens was assessed by the egg production for the initial and middle hens, its intensity and the weight of eggs. The research results showed that the content of layers in the cages of the batteries of the second floor was accompanied by a slight decrease in the safety of livestock — by 0.2–0.5%, egg production per initial layer — by 1.9–2.2%, which led to a decrease in the gross production of eggs by 0.6–0.7 million eggs, egg mass — by 48.9–67.0 tons and a decrease in the European efficiency factor by 0.7–0.9 units.Whereas when keeping laying hens in the cages of batteries on the first floor, there was a decrease in preservation by 10.3–10.8%, egg production per initial hen — by 6.4– 8.4% and body weight — by 7.5–8.1%, which led to a decrease in the gross production of eggs by 1.9–2.6 million pieces, egg mass — by 143.8–210.8 tons and a decrease in the level of the European coefficient of efficiency of egg production by 1.7–2.6 units. Thus, an increase in the layering of the cage equipment does not have a negative effect on hens reproductive function and the keeping of laying hens in the cages of the batteries of the first floor leads to the development of a stress state in them, which manifests itself in a decrease in the safety and deterioration of hens reproductive function, which leads to decrease in the efficiency of egg production.

scholarly journals Genetics of tibia bone properties of crossbred commercial laying hens in different housing systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Johnsson ◽  
Helena Wall ◽  
Fernando A Lopes Pinto ◽  
Robert H Fleming ◽  
Heather A McCormack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Bone Strength ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Bone Properties ◽  
Genome Wide

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are a severe problem for the welfare of laying hens, with genetics and environment, such as housing system, each making substantial contributions to bone strength. In this work, we performed genetic analyses of bone strength, bone mineral density and bone composition, as well as body weight, in 860 commercial crossbred laying hens from two different companies, kept in either furnished cages or floor pens. We compared bone traits between housing systems and crossbreds, and performed a genome-wide association study of bone properties and body weight. As expected, the two housing systems produced a large difference in bone strength, with layers housed in floor pens having stronger bones. These differences were accompanied by differences in bone geometry, mineralisation and chemical composition. Genome-scans either combining or independently analysing the two housing systems revealed no genome-wide significant loci for bone breaking strength. We detected three loci for body weight that were shared between the housing systems on chromosomes 4, 6 and 27 (either genome-wide significant or suggestive when the housing systems were analysed individually) and these coincide with associations for bone length. In summary, we found substantial differences in bone strength, content and composition between hens kept in floor pens and furnished cages that could be attributed to greater physical activity in pen housing. We found little evidence for large-effect loci for bone strength in commercial crossbred hens, consistent with a highly polygenic architecture for bone strength in the production environment. The lack of consistent genetic associations between housing systems in combination with the differences in bone phenotypes support gene-by-environment interactions with housing system.

A Retrospective Study of Dogs Infected with Ehrlichia canis from 2017-2019 in the Thonburi Area of Bangkok Province, Thailand

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Liver Enzymes ◽  
Serum Biochemistry ◽  
Ehrlichia Canis ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Mixed Breed ◽  
Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis ◽  
Open Housing

Ehrlichia canis is a tick-borne rickettsia. It can cause canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). Infected dogs are often reported to have changes in their blood values, such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzymes, and increased kidney function values. This study aimed to collect data that may be related to infected dogs, including age, gender, breed, weight, close-open housing system, the use of ectoparasiticides products. The sample comprised 57 infected dogs. Collecting hematology and serum biochemistry changes in comparison with the reference values of dogs detected with Ehrlichia canis from 2017-2019, Thonburi District, Bangkok, Thailand was also carried out. In summary, dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis mostly included mixed-breed dogs aged between 1 and 10 years. There were no differences in body weight or housing systems. Dogs that had never used ectoparasiticide products or used them intermittently were infected more often (by 7.14 times) than protected. Clinical hematology and serum biochemistry found anemia, thrombocytopenia, and increased liver enzymes.

scholarly journals Identification of blood immune and metabolic indicators explaining the variability of growth of pigs under contrasted sanitary conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Le Floc’h ◽  
F. Gondret ◽  
R. Resmond
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Metabolic Changes ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Blood Profile ◽  
Blood Concentrations ◽  
Antioxidant Power ◽  
Sanitary Conditions

Abstract Background Health and growth of pigs are affected by the hygiene of housing. Lower growth performance observed in poor hygiene of housing conditions is explained by reduced feed intake and metabolic changes caused by the activation of body defences. In a previous experiment, we reported contrasted average values of body weight gain, concentrations of circulating metabolites, redox and immune indicators in blood of pigs housed in good or poor hygiene conditions during the growing period. This study addressed inter-individual variability in these responses to determine whether a particular blood profile explains average daily gain (ADG) of the pig. Results The data originated from 160 growing pigs, half of which subjected to a hygiene challenge for 6 weeks (W0 to W6) and the others housed in good hygiene conditions. Pigs originated from two lines divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Individual body weights were recorded during this period, and relative ADG (rADGW0-W6) was calculated as the ADG corrected by the initial body weight measured at W0. Blood samples were taken before (W0) and 3 weeks (W3) after the beginning of the challenge. The analysed dataset consisted of 51 metabolites and indicators of immune and inflammatory responses measured on 136 pigs having no missing value for any variables, when calculated as the differences W3 minus W0 in circulating concentrations. An algorithm tested all possible linear regression models and then selected the best ones to explain rADGW0-W6. Six variables were identified across the best models and correlated with rADGW0-W6 with a goodness of fit (adjusted R2) of about 67%. They were changes in haptoglobin, global antioxidant capacity of plasma (Biological Antioxidant Power or BAP), free fatty acids, and 3 amino acids: leucine, tryptophan, and 1-methylhistidine. The effects of housing conditions and RFI lines were comprised in the variables of the selected models and none of these conditions improved accuracy of the predictive models, leading to genericity of the pinpointed metabolic changes in relation to variability of ADG. Conclusions This approach allows us to identify blood variables, whose changes in blood concentrations correlated to ADG under contrasted sanitary conditions.

scholarly journals You are what you eat: relative importance of diet, gut microbiota and nestmates for honey bee, Apis mellifera, worker health

Apidologie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina Retschnig ◽  
Johannes Rich ◽  
Karl Crailsheim ◽  
Judith Pfister ◽  
Vincent Perreten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Short Exposure ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Positive Effect

AbstractIn eusocial honey bees, Apis mellifera, diet, gut microbiota and nestmates can all contribute to the health of freshly emerged individual workers, but their relative importance for longevity and body weight is currently unknown. Here, we show that diet is most relevant, followed by gut microbiota and the presence of nestmates. Freshly emerged workers were randomly assigned to eight treatments (with or without honey/pollen, protein-substitute lactalbumin, antibiotic tetracycline and nestmates for 24 h) and maintained under standardised laboratory conditions. Longevity and food consumption were measured daily and fresh body weight was assessed at day 7. The data show a significantly better survival and a higher body weight in workers supplied with honey/pollen. Survival was higher in the lactalbumin treatments compared to the ones restricted to sucrose only, but lower compared to those with honey/pollen, highlighting the importance of micronutrients. In contrast, antibiotic treatment had a significant negative effect on longevity and body weight, which may be explained by inactivated gut microbiota and/or toxicity of the antibiotics. There was no positive effect of nestmates, probably due to the short exposure period. In contrast, nestmates showed a negative effect on survival in antibiotic-treated workers, possibly by transmitting pathogens and antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis. In conclusion, a macro- and micronutrient-rich diet appears to be the key to individual honey bee worker health. Providing an optimal diet and possibly gut microbiota appears to be a promising way to promote managed A. mellifera health.

Role of the Splanchnic Nerve and the Adrenal Medulla in the Genesis of ‘Preoptic Pulmonary Edema’

1956 ◽  
Vol 184 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick W. Maire ◽  
Harry D. Patton
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Pulmonary Edema ◽  
Adrenal Medulla ◽  
Adrenal Glands ◽  
Splanchnic Nerve ◽  
Lung Edema ◽  
Splanchnic Nerves ◽  
Intact Rats

The pulmonary edema which follows preoptic lesions in rats is prevented by antecedent bilateral section of the splanchnic nerves. Intravenous epinephrine in doses exceeding 0.0125 mg/100 gm body weight causes fatal lung edema in rats comparable to that produced by preoptic lesions. Moreover, extracted pressor amines from rat adrenal glands cause lung edema, often fatal, when injected into the donor or into intact rats. However, adrenal demedullation does not prevent lung edema following preoptic lesions. Hence the protective effect of splanchnectomy against preoptic lesions is not wholly due to adrenal denervation. It is tentatively suggested that preoptic lung edema results from overloading of the pulmonary circuit owing to splanchnic mediated constriction of visceral venous reservoirs. Liver and spleen weights of animals dying from preoptic lung edema were significantly less than normal.

scholarly journals DAMAGES OF THE KEEL BONE IN LAYING HENS – OVERVIEW OF THE ETIOLOGICAL ASPECTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (Suppl.1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
K. Uzunova ◽  
L. Lazarov
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Breeding Systems ◽  
Locomotor System ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Bone Damage ◽  
Industrial Complexes ◽  
Characteristic Behaviour ◽  
Unbalanced Diet ◽  
The Individual

The damages of the locomotor system and the skeletal system, in particular, are one of the major problems in the industrial poultry farming. The topic for the pathological changes in the keel bone in oviparous birds has become especially popular among scientists and researchers in recent years. The high incidence of keel bone damage (KBD) of laying hens in industrial complexes is one of the biggest welfare problems facing the industry. They lead to disturbance of the animal welfare, causing pain, limiting the ability to move and to perform the characteristic behaviour of the species. This in turn causes a decrease in productivity and unacceptably large losses not only for the individual producer but also for the whole sector. The problem with the KBD is widespread in Switzerland, Great Britain, the Nederland, Belgium, Germany, and Canada. Different genetic lines of laying hens are affected, as well as all types of breeding systems. In general, the etiological factors are reduced to three main groups – genetic predisposition, unbalanced diet and imperfections in housing systems. The causes and influencing factors of KBD remain unknown to the research community - a circumstance that seriously complicates the development of effective strategies to reduce their occurrence and severity.

scholarly journals Effects of CRN04894, a Nonpeptide Orally Bioavailable ACTH Antagonist, on Corticosterone in Rodent Models of ACTH Excess

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A167-A167
Author(s):  
Melissa A Fowler ◽  
Ana Karin Kusnetzow ◽  
Sangdon Han ◽  
Greg Reinhart ◽  
Sun Hee Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Pituitary Tumor ◽  
Adrenal Glands ◽  
Rodent Models ◽  
Adrenal Hyperplasia ◽  
Ectopic Acth ◽  
Osmotic Pumps ◽  
Mouse Pituitary ◽  
Acth Secreting ◽  
Daily Oral Administration

Abstract CRN04894 is an orally administered nonpeptide that is a potent and selective antagonist for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) acting at the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) and is currently under development for the treatment of diseases of ACTH excess such as Cushing’s disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors. Cushing’s disease results from an adenoma derived from pituitary corticotropic cells that secrete excess ACTH, whereas ectopic ACTH syndrome arises from nonpituitary ACTH secreting tumors. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a genetic disease that results in cortisol deficiency leading to high levels of ACTH and adrenal androgens. Each of these indications is characterized by high ACTH levels that act on MC2R expressed in the adrenal cortex to drive pathological elevations of adrenally derived steroid hormones. CRN04894 blocks the action of ACTH at MC2R, providing a potential novel treatment for these diseases. Preclinical models of chronic hypercortisolemia include implantation of ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor cells in mice and continuous administration of ACTH via subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps in rats. These models induce features consistent with human diseases of ACTH excess including hypercortisolemia and hypertrophy of the adrenal glands. We employed both rodent models to examine the pharmacodynamic effects of CRN04894 on corticosterone levels and adrenal gland morphology. In the mouse pituitary tumor model, subcutaneous inoculation of the ACTH-secreting mouse pituitary tumor cell line, AtT-20, into immunodeficient mice resulted in formation of tumors and increased plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels. Repeated daily oral administration of CRN04894 for 14 days dose-dependently and robustly suppressed plasma corticosterone levels in mice with AtT-20 tumors. In the rat model, subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pumps delivering ACTH resulted in increased corticosterone levels, reduction in body weight, and hypertrophy of the adrenal glands after 7 days. Daily oral administration of CRN04894 over 7 days dose-dependently suppressed corticosterone levels, mitigated the effect of ACTH excess on body weight, and rescued the adrenal gland hypertrophy. These findings provide evidence that CRN04894 functions as an effective ACTH antagonist at MC2R to suppress adrenal corticosterone secretion in both mouse and rat models of ACTH excess and hypercortisolemia, thus providing a strong rationale for its potential therapeutic utility in diseases of ACTH excess. This work was supported in part by an SBIR grant from the NIH awarded to Dr. Struthers (R43- DK115245)

scholarly journals The effect of aloe preparation and 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine on immunological and haematological indices of blood of turkey hens subjected to stress

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Ognik ◽  
Iwona Sembratowicz ◽  
Anna Czech
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Phagocytic Cells ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Induced Stress ◽  
T Stress ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Haematological Indices

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aloe extract or 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine on immunological and haematological indices during artificially induced stress in turkey hens. The experiment was carried out on 360 turkey hens (6 groups). The groups C and C+stress were the control groups and did not receive any additive. Birds from the groups A and A+stress were administered aloe extract at the amount of 0.70 ml/kg body weight (bw)/day. The turkey hens from the groups T and T+stress received 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine at the amount of 30 μg/kg bw/day. The additives were administered in the birds’ drinking water twice for 28 days (days 36–63 and 78–105) of the birds’ life. On days 61–63 and 103–105 a stress factor (simultaneous crowding and a change in temperature and lighting) was introduced in the groups C+stress, A+stress and T+stress for 1 hour a day. The results showed that the applied stress factors caused a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in the lysozyme level and % phagocytic cells, as well as a non-significant reduction in the metabolic activity of heterophils. Under the influence of stress an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the percentage of monocytes and basophils was observed. The use of aloe preparation improved some indicators of immunity (increased, P ≤ 0.05, lysozyme and % phagocytic cells) in the turkey hens. To alleviate the negative effect of stress on immune reactions, supplementation of diets with aloe extract supplemented with resveratrol and vitamin C may be considered.

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